The majority spoke and are speaking about the Enlightened mode of the individual power of Napoleon I. But someone could speak risk of approach of "the kingdom of ignorance".
- There were also positive phenomena, - the Reader tried to keep objectivity. - The retired cavalry captain Marten has intended to publish in Bordeaux "Journal des dames" devoted specially "to ladies, love, beauty and Graces".
Permission has followed. Though were needed the personal information on the captain, correspondence, solemn permission from the minister of police.
- But there is not only an advantage, but also harm of freedom of speech. Statements meet, for example, in the sense that the press "disorients", "confuses", "excites", "involves", "do black", "pits", "offends", "provokes", "creates undesirable moods"... - the Readeress has noticed.
- Action gives rise to counteraction...- the Reader spoke. - Whether are connected planning of invasion of Napoleon to Russia in 1812 and the subsequent death of Great army with lack of publications, discussions, books about invasion into Russia of troops of the Swedish king Karl XII? - the Reader has continued reasonings. - About Russia, about its climate? About history of Russia? I find it difficult to draw a conclusion.
- Gloomy picture... "Crush" of readers, writers, publishers, typographers, book dealers on the historical bridge between the French revolution and mature state system... Berezina... - the Readeress has expressed opinion.
- You shouldn't exaggerate, - the Reader has made the amendment. - France is known for the outstanding literature, including, works on military subject.
- It is possible to remember the expressive description of E.V. Tarle of process of adoption of the decision on the beginning of unlimited submarine war, pernicious, self-destructive for the German Empire, - the Readeress has remembered. - "Leaders of a Reichstag" "discussed" an issue; but they had no appropriate information. The account of submarines went on tens, at such quantity the underwater fleet of Germany of cardinal counteraction to the opponent couldn't render. However the exact number of submarines wasn't known; it was secret. After the decision of leaders of the German Empire - in the conditions of deficiency of information - about the beginning of unlimited submarine war was followed not a victory, but declaration of war by America and "automatic" defeat of Germany in 1918. It was necessary "to know only a little", not to know "superfluous", to have "rather common sense to be concentrate onto the sphere of own the duties"!
- In E.V. Tarle's works I haven't met detailed estimates of a condition of freedom of speech in England, - the Reader developed a thought. - However, the short description of E.V. Tarle by management of the war in England may be compared with slightly ironic description of making decision on the beginning of unlimited submarine war. The tonality of this laconic description in itself is curious: ". . The War Cabinet was resolving in final instance all issues - military, diplomatic, economic, financial, questions of supply and food, - a word, all problems connected with warfare; the ministries were only the tools executing his orders. The War Cabinet was meeting twice a day, daily during the all the time of the existence... Executive body of a War Cabinet, the enormous secretariat, created along with an Cabinet, (at first 36, then 98 and at last 136 people), not only transferring to the ministries, armies and the fleet orders of a War Cabinet, but actively monitoring their exact and fast performance". "The head of a War Cabinet Lloyd George has addressed Holland, Norway, Denmark, Sweden with a persistent request to give to England their merchant fleet "for temporary use" ...". "The most favorable guarantees and material compensations were given. (...) On it finally all calculations of the German military supreme commanders have failed, calculations, however, and without this emergency measure couldn't be fulfilled".
I will mention that by 1914 - when has begun World War I - the politician and the parliamentarian Winston Churchill has written a number of books. He had experience of the officer and war correspondent. In these books military operations with participation of the English troops (some kind of "local wars") during before World War I were described, in particular. Anyone could read these books, they were popular.
- Well, many Russian generals who were involved in World War I had literary talents, - the Readeress has noticed. - Many generals of different armies have written memoirs.
- In memoirs of Walter Schellenberg, one of heads of intelligence agencies, - the Readeress began to remember again, - there is a story about how he has submitted to leaders of Hitlerite Germany at the beginning of 1942 the report on the potential of war industry of America and on opportunities of the U.S. Air Force. Heydrich has been struck with contents of the report; especially he was amazed by data on production of steel. Goering called the report "nonsense". Hitler was very angry and has said that he doesn't trust to a word. After the end of war Goering has told Schellenberg: "Yes, it has turned out that you told not nonsense".
-In Hitler's Germany were negative about freedom of information, to freedom of speech,-phlegmatically said the Reader.
- Comparison of the Napoleonic, Kaiser"s and Hitlerite regimes as it seems to me, - isn't right. Even - it is incorrect, - the Readeress admitted.
- Not political regimes, but level, quality of decisions in the conditions of deficiency of information, in the conditions of absence or limitation of freedom of speech, freedom of information are compared, - the Reader has directed attention. - Someone could and can freely read ANY books by ANY authors, and someone - freely to admire "naked asses".
- If to go deep into history, then it is possible to remember that by the Imperial Manifesto of Nicholas II on October 17, 1905 the population of Russia has been granted, in particular, freedom of speech, - the Readeress has added.
- And this freedom was real, - the Reader didn't begin to object. - V.N. Kokovtsov remembered how, being in the head of the government of Russia from 1911 to 1914, he repeatedly counteracted initiatives "to restraint the press". The same V.N. Kokovtsov wrote about "remarkable" economic blossoming of Russia in a decade between 1904 and 1914. Casual coincidence?
- The citizen living in the educated and progressive society, in the humane, benevolent environment, - the Readeress has spoken, - as a rule, keen on the positive purposes of this society, is involved in it's (society) progressive processes. He doesn't need the bans of "harmful" books. He (citizen) or won't (will not have time) to read them, or they will leave him indifferent, or will generate at him bewilderment or rejection... Are the "naked asses" an element of freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of information? Of freedom of creativity, at last?
- "Naked asses" don't contradict freedom of speech, freedom of press, freedom of information, freedom of (scientific) creativity: public anatomic atlases demonstrate it, - the Reader has assumed.
- What kind the "content of message ", which the creators of "naked asses" are sending? - the Readeress insisted.
The Reader and the Readeress have sat down on a park bench. After whiffs of wind the heat was felt. Then again the coolness came.
August 05, 2017 - August 12, 2017.
Translation from Russian into English: January 21, 2018 - January 23, 2018.